Umbrella



Sept. 28, 1954 F. o. THOMPSON UMBRELLA 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 23, 1953 INVENTOR.

F'LQYD offuonpsou Sept. 28, 1954 O THOMPSON 2,690,187

UMBRELLA Filed Dec. 23, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 :IIIIII/ INVENTOR. FLgYD O. THoMPsou AT TO QM EYS Patented Sept. 28, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE UMBRELLA Floyd 0. Thompson, Seattle, Wash.

Application December 23, 1953, Serial No.'399,893

Claims.

This invention relates to umbrella construction, and more particularly, has reference to an umbrella construction 50 designed as to prevent the cover portion of the umbrella from being turned inside out during use, and formed, additionally, to control drainage of water from said cover portion when the cover portion is in its collapsed position.

It is well appreciated that conventionally designed umbrellas have an undesirable characteristic, in that under pressure of a strong wind, the cover portions thereof will, in many instances, turn inside out, thereby damaging the umbrella.

Additionally, after an umbrella has been used and is brought indoors and collapsed, the water accumulated between the folds of the collapsed umbrella must be drained off. In most instances, the draining of accumulated water from an umbrella requires that the umbrella be positionedin a suitable receptacle, such as a sink, tub, or the like, this being a situation which is obviously undesirable so far as the users of umbrellas are concerned.

The broad object of the present invention is to provide an umbrella construction which will have none of these disadvantages.

A further important object is to provide an umbrella construction wherein brace ribs are utilized, said brace ribs cooperating with frame ribs in such a manner as to prevent the umbrella from turning inside out under pressure of a strong wind.

Yet another object of importance is to provide an umbrella construction wherein the urnbrella will be equipped with a dome-like formation at one end, said formation defining a cuplike receptacle on inversion of the umbrella, into which water can drain from the folds of the collapsed cover portion, the staff of the umbrella having drain passages communicating with said receptacle and opening upon one end of the staff, so as to permit water accumulating within the receptacle to be drained therefrom only at such times as the user finds it convenient to empty the receptacle.

Yet another object of importance is to provide an umbrella construction as described which will be rugged and durable, and capable of use over a long period of time.

Other objects will appear from the following description, the claims appended thereto, and from the annexed drawings, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an umbrella formed in accordance with the present inven-' tion, the umbrella being illustrated in an open position; v

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 22 of Figure 1, the dotted lines showin the closed position of the cover and its associated parts;

Figure 3 is an exploded View of the top portion of the assembly shownin Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the outer end portions of one of the frame ribs and the complemental outer rib member.

Referring to the drawings indetail, the reference numeral M. has been applied generally to an elongated staff, said staff including a lower portion I6 and an upper portion 18.

It is preferred that the staff be jointed, and to this end, the lower end of the upper portion I8 is telescopically received in a socket 20 formed in the upper end of the lower portion It of the staff. The lower end of the upper portion l8 and the socket 20'respectively, Figures 2 and 3,

are formed with registering transverse openings through which extends an internally threaded sleeve 22, the sleeve being in threaded engagement with a threaded screw 24.

At the upper end of the upper portion is of the staff hi there is a dome-like formation 26 which is hollow and which defines a cup-like re ceptacle when the staff is inverted. The dome formation 26 has a bottom 21 from which depends a collar 30. Arranged about and projecting from the exteriorsurface of the collar 30 are a plurality of segmental housings 28, the respective housings .being spaced from each other at intervals and being secured to the bottom 21 of the dome formation 26.

Each housing 28, Figures 3 and 4, is provided with a notch 32 which extends inwardly from the lower end thereof. Radiating outwardly from the dome formation 26 and-spaced equidistantly about such formation are a plurality of bracev ribs. Each brace rib, Figures 2 and '3, includes an inner rib member 34 which extends through a notch 32 in an adjacent segmental housing 23 and has the inner end pivotally connected to such 'ri-b by means of a pin 36 extending transversely through the housing 28, the notch limiting the upward swinging movement of the inner rib member, and hence, the entire brace rib relative to the housing 28.

Each brace rib further includes an outer rib member 33 into which the inner rib member 34 is slidably telescoped, and on the outer end of each outer rib member 38, transversely spaced, depending cars 40 are formed.

The umbrella further includes a series of frame ribs 42, each of which has at its outer end, Figures 2 and 3, an upstanding tongue 44 extending between the ears 40 of a brace rib. The ears 40, and tongue 44, are formed with registering openings receiving pivot pins whereby the outer ends of the respective brace and frame ribs are pivotally joined.

The inner ends of the frame ribs 42 are formed with eyes which extend into notches 46 formed in a ring 48 circumposed about and carried by a sleeve 58 intermediate its ends, the eyes being connected to the rin to swing upon the ring 52 between upper positions in which the series of frame ribs 42 is disposed in a substantially horizontal plane, and lower positions in which the frame ribs extend longitudinally of the staif 14 as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. It is to be noted that the notches 46 provide sufficient clearance space to permit the swinging movement of the eyes on the inner ends of the frame ribs 4'2. The sleeve 50 surrounds the lower portion 16 adjacent the upper end thereof and is fixedly s cured to such portion l6.

Means is provided for elevating the connected brace and frame ribs, and for lowering the same, and to this end, there is provided a series of connecting members 54 each of which is pivotally connected at its outer end to the intermediate portion of one of the frame ribs 42.

At their inner ends, the connecting members 54 are pivotally joined to a runner or second sleeve 56 mounted upon the lower portion 16 of the staff I4 to slide longitudinally thereof.

Formed in the sleeve 56 is a longitudinal slot and when the sleeve 56 is adjusted upwardly to the full line position thereof illustrated in Figure 2, an upper spring catch 58 mounted in the lower portion 16 of the staff I4 is adapted to extend into said slot, for the purpose of holding the sleeve in its upper position. The catch is depressible by thumb pressure.

A lower catch 60 is spaced longitudinally of the staff l4 from the upper catch 58, and has a cam surface adapted to be engaged by the sleeve 56 when said sleeve is shifted downwardl along the staff. The lower catch 60, like the catch 58, can be depressed by thumb pressure whenever it is desired to release the sleeve.

From the above, it will be seen that the sleeve 56 can be locked releasably in either its upper or lower positions, and it follows that the ribs 38, ribs 42, and connecting members 54 will be similarly locked in the raised and lowered positions thereof.

A cover 66 is, in the present instance, of circular formation, although the outer configuration of said cover can be varied as desired. The cover, in this connection, is formed of a waterproofed fabric or other flexible material, said cover being disposed in the space between the brace ribs 38 and frame ribs 42.

The cover 66 is connected at its center to the stafi l4, and to this end, there is provided a disc 63 which is carried by the upper end of the sleeve 50 and is flush with the upper end of the lower portion 16 of the staff M, the center of the cover having fabric reinforcements 64 extending about the hole in the cover for the extension of the upper section l8 of the staff I4 theretl'n'ough. As shown in Figure 3, the hole in the center of the cover 66 is in registry with the hole in the disc 63 with the reinforcement 64 resting upon the disc. A disc 52 surrounds the upper portion if of the staif l4 below the cup 30 and is fixedly secured to said portion. Connecting pins 66 dependingly carried by the disc 82 pass through openings 69 in the disc and openings in the reinforcements and cover.

At their outer ends, the respective frame ribs 42 are formed with oppositely directed, laterally projecting apertured lugs l9, Figures 2 and 3, the periphery of the cover being connected to said lugs by any suitable fastening means.

It will thus be seen that the cover will. move conjointly with the brace and frame ribs between upper and lower positions, the cover being collapsed against the staif 14 in the lowered position thereof, and being extended in an approximately horizontal plane parallel to and disposed between the planes of the brace and frame ribs, in the raised position of said ribs.

It will further be noted that when the cover is in its raised position, it cannot turn inside out under pressure of a strong wind, due to the fact that the brace ribs 38 will engage against the inner walls of the notches 32.

In the umbrella which I have devised, there is included a means for controlling drainage from the folds of the collapsed cover 6%. This means is particularly well illustrated in Figure 2, and as will be noted from this figure, the upper portion [8 of the staff has, adjacent that point at which the dome-like formation 26 is fixedly secured to the staff, a series of radial drain openings M communicating with an axial drain passage 12 formed in said upper portion it. The drain passage i2 opens through the adjacent end of the upper portion l8, but is normally closed by a removable cap it connected to the formation 26 by a chain H3 or the like.

When the umbrella is in its lowered position, water which has accumulated between the folds of the collapsed cover 65 will drain downwardly into the formation 26, said formation now defining a receptacle 26. The user can permit said water to accumulate within the receptacle until such time as use is to be made of the umbrella once again, at which time the umbrella can be taken out-of-doors and the cap it removed, thereby permitting the accumulated liquid to drain out of the receptacle 26.

Alternatively, after the water has been fully drained from the folds of the collapsed umbrella, the umbrella can be positioned over a sink or the like, and the cap it removed, thereby permitting the liquid that has been drained off from the cover to be released all at one time. This precludes the necessity of leaving the umbrella in a sink or tub for an undesirably long period of time.

What is claimed is:

1. An umbrella comprising a a dome-like formation thereon, a cover seemed to the stalf below said formation, brace ribs radiating from and having inner ends connected pivotally to said formation for swinging movement of said brace ribs from raised positions in project laterally from the staif and Ice. ed positions in which they extend the staff, frame ribs radiating from and having inner ends pivotally connected to said staff, said frame ribs being connected at their outer ends longitudinally of to the periphery of the cover-, *a' pivotal' connection between the outer emisof the respective brace and frame ribs adapted fer effecting movement of the frame ribs and cover conjointly with the brace ribs to said raised and lowered positions, and means 'slidably carr'i'ed'said staff and operatively connected to the frame ribs intermediate the ends thereof effective for adjustment of the brace and frame ribs and cover to said positions thereof, said formation being proportioned to engage the brace ribs in the raised position thereof to limit movement of the brace ribs and their associated cover and frame ribs beyond said raised position.

2. An umbrella comprising a staff, a circular dome-like formation on one end of the staff, a cover secured at its center to the staff below said formation, a series of brace ribs radiating from and having inner ends connected pivotally to the periphery of said formation, the brace ribs being connected to said formation for swinging movement from raised positions in which said 'series is disposed in an approximately horizontal plane, and lowered positions in which the brace ribs of said series extend longitudinally of the staff, a series of frame ribs radiating from and having inner ends pivotally connected to said staff, said frame ribs being swingable about their pivotal connections between raised positions in which the series of frame ribs lies in a substantially horizontal plane parallel to and spaced from said plane of the brace ribs, and lowered positions in which. the frame ribs extending longitudinally of the staff, pivotal connections between the outer ends of the frame ribs and the outer ends of the respective brace ribs, said frame ribs being connected at their outer ends to the periphery of the cover, the respective brace and frame ribs, and their associated cover, being adapted to shift conjointly to said raised and lowered positions, and means slidably carried by said staff and operatively connected to the frame ribs intermediate the ends thereof effective for adjustment of the brace and frame ribs and cover to said positions thereof, said formation being proportioned to engage the brace ribs in the raised positions thereof to limit movement of the brace ribs and their associated cover and frame ribs beyond said raised position.

3. An umbrella comprising a staff, a circular dome-like formation fixedly secured to one end thereof, a generally circular cover of flexible material disposed below and arranged concentrically with said formation, said cover being secured at its center to the staff, a series of brace ribs radiating from and having inner ends connected pivotally to said formation, the brace ribs being connected to said formation for swinging movement from raised positions in which said series is disposed in an approximately horizontal plane, and lowered positions in which the brace ribs of said series extend longitudinally of the staff, a series of frame ribs radiating from and having inner ends pivotally connected to said staff, said frame ribs being swingable about their pivotal connections between raised positions in which the series of frame ribs is in a substantially horizontal plane parallel to and spaced from the plane of the brace ribs, and lowered positions in which the frame ribs extend longitudinally of the staff, for collapsing the cover against the staff, the frame ribs being connected at their outer ends to the periphery of the cover and to the outer ends of the respective brace ribs, for effecting movement of the frame ribs and cover conjointly with the brace ribs to said raised and lowered positions, a sleeve mounted on the staff to slide longitudinally thereof, connecting members attached pivotally at their opposite ends to said sleeve and to the frame ribs respectively, said sleeve. and connecting members providing means effective foradj-ustment of the brace and frame ribs and cover to therespective raised and lowered positions thereof, and means on said formation proportioned to engage the brace ribs in the raised position thereof to limit movement of the brace ribs and their associated cover and frame ribs beyond said raised position.

4. An umbrella comprising a staff, a circular dome-like formation fixedly secured to one end thereof, a generally circular cover of flexible material disposed below and arranged concentrically with said formation, said cover being secured at its center to the staff, a series of telescopic brace ribs radiating from said formation and having inner ends pivotally connected to said formation, the brace ribs being connected to said formation for swinging movement between raised positions in which the series of brace ribs is disposed in an approximately horizontal plane, and lowered positions in which the brace ribs of said series extend longitudinally of the staff, a series of frame ribs radiating from and having inner ends pivotally connected to said staff, said frame ribs being swingable about their pivotal connections between raised positions in which the series of frame ribs is in an approximately horizontal plane parallel to and spaced from the plane of the brace ribs, and lower positions in which the frame ribs extend longitudinally of the staff for collapsing of the cover against the staff in a lowered position of the cover, the frame ribs being connected at their outer ends to the periphery of the cover and to the outer ends. of the respective brace ribs for effecting conjoint movement of the frame ribs, brace ribs, and cover to said raised and lowered positions, a sleeve mounted on the staff to slide longitudinally thereof, and connecting members attached pivotally at their opposite ends to said sleeve and to the frame ri-bs respectively, said sleeve and connecting members providing means effective for adjustment of the brace and frame ribs and cover to the respective raised and lowered positions thereof.

5. An umbrella comprising a staff including a lower portion and an upper portion telescoping within and detachably secured to said lower portion, a circular dome-like formation fixedly secured to the upper end of said upper portion,

brace ribs radiating from and having inner ends connected pivotally to said formation for swinging movement between raised positions in which said series is disposed in an approximately horizontal plane and lowered positions in which they extend longitudinally of the staff, a series of frame ribs radiating from and having inner ends pivotally connected to the lower portion of said staff, said frame ribs being swingable about their pivotal connections between raised positions in which the series of frame ribs lies in a substantially horizontal plane parallel to and spaced from said plane of the brace ribs, and lowered positions inwhich the frame ribs extend longitudinally of the staff, coacting discs on the upper portion of said staff, a generally circular cover of flexible material disposed between and arranged concentrically of said discs, means carried by one of said discs and extending through the cover and the other of said discs for securing the cover to said discs, pivotal connections between the outer ends of the frame ribs and the outer ends of the respective brace ribs, said frame ribs being connected at their outer ends to the periphery of the cover, the respective brace and frame ribs, and their associated cover, being adapted to shift conjointly to said raised and lowered positions, and means slidably carried by said staff and operatively connected to the frame ribs intermediate the ends thereof effective for adjustment of the brace and frame ribs and cover to said positions thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 722,573 Flynn Mar. 10, 1903 Bardy Nov. 16, 1943 

